Arsenal V Manchester United Preview: Gunners to be Shot Down Again?

David Doodson — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:35:27 -0500

After a difficult start to the season for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, nothing would please great rival Sir Alex Ferguson more than to inflict more suffering on the Frenchman.

One of the most anticipated games of the Premier League season, Saturday could prove to be a defining day in the career of Wenger.

Arsenal enter the game as definite underdogs; the Gunner's have struggled as of late, losing to newly-promoted sides Hull and Stoke, whereas United seem to be going from strength-to-strength and are currently seven games unbeaten in the Premier League

Vital to the outcome could be the fitness of Theo Walcott and William Gallas, both of whom are hopeful of being fit. Arsenal have been shaky at the back this season and, surely, without Gallas, they would be even further disadvantaged. Meanwhile, Walcott has begun to realise the potential everyone knew he had, after cementing his place on Arsenal's right.

If Arsenal are to get a result on Saturday, Cesc Fabregas will have to regain the form of last season and the summer's European Championship. Commentators have suggested that the wonderfully gifted midfielder is suffering from a hangover after Spain's victory in the summer.

A return to form for Fabregas is imperative if Arsenal are to maintain their title challenge.

Manchester United, on the other hand, have hit form after a slow start to the season. The form of Wayne Rooney has been well documented; the young England striker has added consistency to combine his erratic moments of genius. The return of Cristiano Ronaldo from injury offers United the genuine width on the right which had been missing at the start of the season.

United are at their most dangerous when their attacking players are chopping and changing; Rooney, Tevez, and Berbatov dropping deep to receive the ball with Ronaldo, Nani, and Giggs floating between wings.

Ronaldo is often the instigator of United's fluid movement, after coming inside from the right. When these inter-changes are choreographed correctly, United are simply unplayable.

Combined with the attacking threat United posses is the steely defence, which has only conceded eight goals in the Premier League this season, compared with 12 let in by Arsenal, six of which have come in the last two league games.

Nemanja Vidic is the type of dominant centre back that Wenger would crave. Vidic is in the mould of former Gunners skipper Tony Adams, and to use a recent example, you couldn't imagine Tony Adams being out muscled by Ricardo Fuller, for Stoke's first goal in their recent victory over Arsenal, like Kolo Toure was.

However, there is too much negativity written bout Arsenal in my opinion. It is very easy to criticise them when they suffer a few dodgy result, but it is important to remember that when they get it right, they get it so right.

So, a prediction. I believe that the loss of Emmanuel Adebayor will be huge for Arsenal, and I just can't see United being beaten. I think that Fergie's men will have too much for the Gunners going forward, Arsenal 0 United 2.

Is Richard Dunne the Right Man to Lead Manchester City?

David Doodson — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:08:08 -0400

The final day of the 2007-08 season had brought both delight and despair for Manchester City captain Richard Dunne.

After being announced as City’s Player of the Season for a record fourth consecutive season, the powerful Irish centre back unfortunately received a straight red card for a professional foul on Afonso Alves in City’s game against Middlesbrough at the Riverside. It was believed that this could jeopardise City’s chances of playing in the Uefa Cup next season via qualification through the Fair Play League (in the end it didn’t).

Furthermore, City lost the game 8-1, in what was Sven-Goran Eriksson’s final game in charge.

A rollercoaster summer ensued, as it always seems to at City. With the club in turmoil after Eriksson’s departure and owner Thaskin Shinawatra’s billions frozen by Thai authorities, rumours circulated that the entire playing staff were up for sale, including Dunne.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has never hidden his admiration for Dunne, and reportedly lodged a £5 million bid, which was later matched by the defensively needy Tottenham Hotspur.

Newly installed City manager Mark Hughes made securing Dunne’s future, who only had 12 months remaining on his contract, his top priority. The Welshman succeeded, with Dunne signing a new four-year contract. The City fans were understandably thrilled with the news, after all Dunne had been the mainstay of the club for eight years since his move from Everton for £3 million.

However, now, after the groundbreaking takeover of the club by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his subsequent purchase of Robinho for a British record £32.5 million, expectations at the City of Manchester Stadium have been sent through the roof.

Rumours were rife on transfer deadline day of bids for David Villa, Mario Gomez, and Dimitar Berbatov, and future bids for world stars such as Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres, and Cristiano Ronaldo. It seems as though no player at City is now safe.

Which brings me to Dunne, a player who epitomises everything about Manchester City. A never-say-die-attitude combined with a huge amount of talent, Dunne is possibly the most underrated central defender in the Premiership.

Don’t forget, he was the only man who could come of a pitch last season and honestly claim he got the better of Fernando Torres for the full 90 minutes during the game between City and Liverpool at the City of Manchester Stadium in December.

Furthermore, after being unable to leave his bed the day before the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Dunne miraculously recovered to lead his side to City’s first "Derby Double" for almost 40 years.

So with City entering this new, exciting era, with a seemingly limitless transfer budget available, what about Richard Dunne? His leadership of the side has never been questioned since being installed as captain, replacing the now departed Sylvain Distin.

He has a special bond with the fans, anyone who has been voted the club’s Player of the Season for four consecutive years must do. He has successfully turned his career around after entering last chance saloon under Kevin Keegan. The Dubliner, with a deceptive turn of pace, has clocked up a more than respectable 45 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

However, with the Premiership season just entering October, there have been question marks as to Dunne’s worthiness of a starting berth in City’s new look line-up. It must be said that he hasn’t looked his usual assured self in recent weeks.

His mistake lead to FC Midtjylland taking a first leg lead back to Denmark in the Uefa Cup qualifying round and he, uncharacteristically, lost his composure on several occasions during the Blues’ recent defeat to Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

Certain sections of the City faithful have suggested that, other than the troublesome left back position, Mark Hughes and his scouts should be looking for a long term partner for England star Micah Richards.

Basically, Dunne’s days could be coming to an end.

If we look at Mark Hughes’ preferred starting line-up, "Sparky" seems to favour 4-1-4-1 formation with the increasingly impressive Vincent Kompany sat in front of the back four. In front of him, we find the array flair and creativity in the form of Robino, Elano, Stephen Ireland, and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

This new, attacking philosophy certainly seems to be paying off, with City currently the league’s highest scorers. However, at the back, where the Blues have looked so assured in recent years, City looked decidedly shaky at times.

In previous years, certainly under Sven-Goran Eriksson and Stuart Pearce, City have looked to sneak a lead and then sit back and absorb anything thrown at them. This sort of philosophy is perfect for Richard Dunne.

However, the way City now play, with attacking vigour and vitality, the Blues’ defence have looked exposed at times. This linked with the troublesome left back position and Pablo Zabaleta enjoying the freedom to bomb forward from right back, the responsibility placed on the Dunne-Richards partnership has increased.

In a way, Dunne should take confidence from this—as it shows the faith Hughes has in him.

So, the question seems to be, is there a place for Dunne in City’s attacking formation? People seem to accept that Micah Richards has the explosive pace and power to get himself out of certain situations. Dunne is no slouch by any means, but as already mentioned, he is much more effective with his back up against the wall. It is no coincidence that his most famous performances for the Blues have come against the Premier League’s "Big Four".

Personally, I believe it is too early to judge Dunne as not good enough for City’s new era. After his performances for City, particularly over the last four seasons, Dunne deserves his chance to prove his doubters wrong.

He has done it before, there is no reason why he won’t do it again.

City’s next game comes against Liverpool, a game in which, as already mentioned, Dunne excelled in last season. It wouldn’t surprise me if City come away from the game with a result, brought about, in part, from a sterling performance from their "Captain Fantastic".

Bleacher Report - Articles by David Doodson

Arsenal V Manchester United Preview: Gunners to be Shot Down Again?

Is Richard Dunne the Right Man to Lead Manchester City?